Hearing continued for defendant accused in hit-run that killed Chico State student

OROVILLE — A preliminary hearing has been postponed again for an Ohio man charged for a hit-and-run incident that killed a Chico State University student.

Defendant Riley Dean Hoover, 20, had been set to have his preliminary examination Thursday on charges pertaining to the Sept. 22 incident on Nord Avenue in Chico that led to the death of Kristina Chesterman, 21, of Livermore.

Hoover's attorney Clyde M. Blackmon of Sacramento asked Butte County Superior Court Judge Kristen Lucena to continue the hearing because he received additional discovery evidence the day before. He said the evidence pertains to forensic information for the preliminary hearing and a motion regarding the legality of searches in the case.

The judge granted the request and reset the preliminary examination to March 7.

Hoover is charged with felony driving under the influence causing injury and the special allegation he inflicted great bodily injury causing coma. The defendant is also charged with felony counts of leaving the scene of an accident, transporting marijuana for sale and manufacturing concentrated cannabis.

Chico police have alleged Hoover struck Chesterman before 11 p.m. while she was in the northbound bike lane of Nord crossing Big Chico Creek. She was declared brain dead at Enloe Medical Center two days later.

Police contacted Hoover while responding to calls he allegedly struck a parked vehicle in his apartment complex a third of a mile away.